The International ACREDITA 2025 Congress has commenced at the Zaragoza Congress Palace under the theme «Your experience matters.» The event, organized by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports of the Government of Aragón, brings together more than 800 participants from across Europe to discuss the recognition of professional competencies acquired through work experience and non-formal education.
The inaugural day featured the presence of the General Director of Planning, Centers, and Vocational Training, Luis Mallada, and the Director of the Agency for Professional Qualifications of Aragón, Lourdes Gil. Both highlighted the importance of accreditation as a tool to strengthen talent and employability in a transforming labor market.
In the previous year, nearly 2,500 individuals accredited their professional competencies in Aragón, with 13,329 recognized competence standards. Since 2022, the community has accumulated 7,308 accredited individuals and 3,039,003 recognized standards. Mallada emphasized that «Aragón is leading the change at a national level» in this process.
By disciplines, the professional families of Safety and Environment and Sociocultural Services to the Community lead the demand, followed by Administration and Management, Commerce and Marketing, and Hospitality and Tourism.
The first day focused on understanding competence standards and the role of companies in their definition. The program included lectures by Professor Manuel Souto-Otero on the validation of work experience, and by SEPE technician Roberto Sanz on labor market mismatches. Representatives from Aragonese companies such as Carreras, BSH, Integra, and Stellantis participated in a roundtable discussion on professional profiles.
The second day features a lecture by Víctor Küppers titled «Living and Working with Joy,» roundtables on social agents, successful business cases, and a presentation of European validation methods. The congress will continue until next Thursday with a participatory and multidisciplinary focus.
